Genealogy Chat

I have quite a few as well. I think its because they didnt work on christmas day, its the same reason as most marriages/baptisms the further you go back are conducted on a Sunday.

Quite a few of my ancestors seem to have been married in churches on christmas day. Must be more than coincidental. Am I correct in thinking there may have been a special reason for this...I'm thinking along the lines that far from being romantic, that fees may have been waived on this day, and they were 'mass' ceremonies for several couples? Or am I being overly cynical?

Christmas Day marriages were often performed free in Cathedrals and large Parish Churches. (Easter too). Also, it was often the only day off that a couple could guarantee. Although Christmas was not celebrated in the same way that we do now, often family members would come home for the day, so all in all it was a very convenient day to get married. OC

It was a day off work for both parties, at the same time. Jay

I have lots and lots of baptisms in Christmas day. I had assumed that it was a good day to choose as there might be a family get together anyway. The fact that it was a day off for most people didn't occur to me but makes complete sense. dizzy

Hi Richard, My great grandmother got married on Christmas day and when i showed the marriage certificate to my 8 year old daughter she said 'how cool is that you get wedding presents AND Christmas presents !!!!' Made me smile !! best wishes Christine

I never knew they very free in larger churches on that day..see you learn something new everyday! Imagine getting married on christmas day now, it would cost a small fortune!.

'The fact that it was a day off for most people didn't occur to me' Same here though in hindsight it's rather obvious and makes sense. Thanks for the replies everyone.

My Mum and Dad married on Xmas day 1929. I remember Mum saying it was cos they all worked Mon to Sat and Sunday was the only day off that didn't cause problems for all the family to attend the wedding. an added bonus too was that the church was decorated for Christmas with loads of Flowers as well as the Nativity themes . She often said the Church had a really warm atmosphere as well as physically & it had been heated for all the services that were going on. Her bridesmaids .all 12 of them wore Red velvet dresses with white fur stoles. and her 6 pageboys were in the traditional pageboy outfits with red velvet waistcoats ans well as the Knickerbocker trousers, white stockings as black patent shoes with big buckles on them, Bet was a lovely sight, Unfortunately no photos survive cos they got ripped off by the photographer

Yes, the Holy Holidays were a peak time for ancestors in Victorian times - as already said, one reason being churches often waived the fee, and it was a day off AND if they were country people then the local lord would be laying on a christmas dinner for his estate so it would be a nice wedding party.

My GGgrandparents got married on 25th December 1854 in the registry office. I've often wondered if the fee was waived for that one. (He was off work at the time 'cos he worked for his father in France)

Hi Richard, My gran was married in 1937 on New Year's Day - what a great day to get married!! Best wishes Maria

Using the letter X for Christ is a very old abbreviation. You'll often see in old records Xchurch, etc. Ozi.

Hi Maria, So was mine - 1927 :)) Debbie

My aunt and uncle were married on Christmas Day in 1938.